Electric switch



July 28, 1931. J. w. UPP ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH 4 lill/1 (frat. l..

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 4, 1927 Ihvenfor' John W, Upp, WilliamK.Rcmkr\` forneg.

July 28, 1931. f 1 w; UPP ET AL 1,816,799

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOhnW. Uisp.;

" William K-Hc1r1kin,

` bb! His ANON-19H.

2.5 embodying our invention;

35 theyI 50 vided atintervals ,Witlrlugs 6 engage Patented July 28, 1931rArsNr gorties JOHN W. UPBANDWILLIAM K. nAnxIN, or SCHENECTADY, NewYORK, Assienons rro 'GENERAL ELECTRICQQMPANY, A CORPQRATXQN 0Fv NEW.YORK i (ELECTRIC SWITCH Application flied Afu'gustf, 1927. Serial No.210,653.

. Our invention relates to electric switches of the fluid break type andparticularly to those switches which are adapted for the control oflarge capacity power transmission circuits. Une, object of ourinventiontl b theprovisionof a switch having various im` proved nection with ltheaccompanying drawings,

and its scope, will be pointed outin the appended claims.

:Referring tothe* drawings, Fig. lis aside elevation partly in ycrosssection of a switch Fig.v 2 is a cross sectional view-through the upperportion of the switch showing the operating` mechanism;` Fig. 3 is across section on thepline 3-3 oFig, 2;y Fig. 4 is an' elevation'partlyin section of a modified form; and Fig. 5 is a section on line--y ofFig. 4 drawn to a larger scfale.

They vessel or casing enclosing the switch contacts and the insulatingliquid, inwhieh are immersed, :comprises essentially the sheet metalcylinder 1, thebottom end head 2 and the removable cover 3, the casingbeing constructed to withstand relatively` high pressures. The bottomlend head and the cover comprise dome-shaped members pressed up fromsheet metal stock` andpreferably both have the same form and dimensionswhereby the samedies serve Jfor thedmaking of both. The bottom endheadhas its; flanged edge fitting within and welded to the cylinder l,

thereby forming the tank. vWelded respectively to vthefupper edge` ofthe cylindervan to the, flanged edge of'ftie cover are the clampingrings orilanges 4v and 5, each being (prov by .the movable contact,

the welded inward .flange v22.

clamping bolts'. the usevofv ak suitable gasket between the rings 4, and5, the cover and tank may be clamped together by the bolts to make agas-tight connection. alnasmuch as thecover and the bottom end head`have the same diameter corresponding with the inside diameter of thecylinder, the two rings 4 and4 'di'tfer slightly in 'form and diameterin order to properly fit the members to .which they are secured. Hthinthe tank is the insulationlining 8y supported from the bottom of thetank by4 the rods 9 and connected with tlm-bottom is Lthe drainpipe 10.Extending throughA the ,cover are the two insulator bushings 12 and 13yeach havinga terminal connector 14 at itsupper endI and a fixed switchcontact 15 at its lower end. The fixed contacts are adapted to bebridgedby member 16 which is actuatedbyfgtlie operatingrod 17 extendingup to the operatingv mechanism above. For supporting the insulatorbushings the cover is provided with suitable openingsinto which fit andare welded the rings 2() each shown having the. integral outward flange2,1 and Thev lower flange-22 has an integral outward extension or lip 23which for greater strength is braced vfrom the upper flange 21 by theplate 24 also attached by welding. The'lip 23 is provided for thepurposer of .supporting the switch from a suitable supporting-structure.not shown, or vfasteningfthe tanks together if they are floor mounted,the long line ot the welded connection between the ring 20 and the coverhead serving to stififenthe cover and to distribute the 'force incidenttoihe weight of ,the switch over a large area of the. cover, vVithin thering 20v is the current transformer 26 having terminalsl brought outthrough openings in ring Q() andsccured to the top of the ring by bolts,not shown, is the cover ring 27 to which the lange 28 oi the bushing issecured by the bolts 29,` suitable gaslfets being used to make thejoints tight.

The guide for the operating rod licornd prises the V-shaped member 32oflinsulating material, the two upper ends of which are shown secured byangle brackets and bolts to the lower flange- 22 of; the ring 20 `whilethe intermediate portion engages the operating rod at the point of the Vadjacent the fixed contacts l5. The guide having a sharp incline asshown and being devoid of any Hat surface between the contacts uponwhich -arbon might collect and partially bridge the gap between thecontacts, the possibility of a short circuit between the contacts fromthisA canse is greatly reduced if not entirely eliminated.

The switch operating mechanism by which vertical movement is imparted tothe operating rod is housed tor the most part in an upward extension ofthe cover, a re tangular opening beingl cut away in the central portionof the head comprising the cover, This extension is Yi'ormed in part otan open rectangular lex-like member 35 to the top of whil-h isdetaehably connected by bolts 3G the. covering' member 37. Both members35 and 37 are kconstrueted ot sheet metal, the Vformer being` welded tothe coverl head thereby stiilcning` and strengtllening the, saine aroundthe opening therein and the latter being built up ot sheet metal plateswelded together and secured to member 35 in a gas-tignt manner. Securedto and depending from the member 37 are the spaced plates 3S and 39which support the pin l on which is pivoled the double lever 11. it. oneend, this lever is pivoted to the toggle links 42 and i3, the latterbeing secured io shaft il journalled in the walls of member 37. Near itsother end this lever is pivoted to lever comprising the straight linemotion mechanism, the ends of whici lever are pivoted respectively tothe perating rod 17 and to the link 46. It will be noted that theintermediate pivot of lever l5 is slightly displaced from the straightline joining the two end pivots thereof. As a result o1 thisconstruction the rod 17 moves in a more nearly straight line without theuse of an excessively long link tG. This straight line motion mechanismis described and claimed in a patent ot lVilliam K. Rankin. No.1,754,179, granted April 8, 1930, and assigned tothe same assignee asthe present application. The downward or -switeh openingmovement of themechanism is checked by the dash pots L1S which are supported by theplates 3S in position to be engaged by the double lever ill. The upwardor-closing movement olE the mechanism is checked by the spring butter 49positioned to be engaged by the double lever L1i. The butler is mountedin the top wall ofthe covering member 37 and has an outwardly extendingadjusting member 50 by means of which. the tension ot the butter may beadjusted from the exterior of the enclosing casing. On one end ot theshaft la and outside the cover member 37 is the crank which through link53 and rod 5l connects with the closing spring 55 also located outsideof the cover member 37. Rod 51 is guided by the lug 56 and on its free.end has a nut 57 by which the tension of the spring 55 may be adjusted.For adjusting the limiting position ol the toggle links 42, 43, link 43is provided with an extension 59 and an adjnsting screw 50 i.; threadedinto the cover member 37 to engage the extension, the screw being thusaccessible from the exterior of the casing. On the oppositr` end ot theshalt 1 -l is the operating crank (52 to which is pivoted the mainactuating rod 63. This rod at one end connects through the bell crank(Si with the rod G5 to which connects the switch actuating motormechanism, not shown. The other end of rod G3 has an adjustableomiection titi with rod 67 leadirug; to another switch unit which is tobe operated simultaneously with the unit shown.

feather protection tor the parts hicated out-side oi the pressure casingcomprises the sheet metal 'trame 7() having' ends 71 apin'oxi` matelysemiecircular in Vtorni secured bv the boltsl 36 tothe cover structure.Cooperating with this frame is the light sheet metal cover 72, bolts 73being provided by which it is held down to the trame 70. The weatherenclosure thus provided is extended by means ofthe nipple 75, the elbowcasing 7G and pipe 77 to enclose the rod 63, bell crank G4: and rod G5.The rod 67 connecting with the next unit enclosed bythe pipe 7S havinga. slip connection with the nipple 7 9. At Vet) is shown a semaphore forindicating whether the switch is in closed or open position.

In the modilied form illustrated by Figures l 5 the cylinder 1 haswelded to it both the bottom head, not shown, and the top or cover head85, the operating mechanism bcing arranged entirely below the contourol' the cover head. Since the top ot the head accordingly is furtherabove the fixed contacts the insulator bushings 86 are longer than inthe form illustrated by Fig. 1. rl`he spaced plates 87 by which themechanism is supported are bolted to the cover head and preferably aremade in sections small enough to pass through the manhole in the lop ofthe cover. Secured to the cover head adjacent one plate 87 is the box 88enclosing The ends oi the the rod 89 and lever 90.

box connect with nipples 91 also secured to the cover head. Access tothe interior of the switch casing for the assembly and care of theapparatus therein is obtained through ay manhole shown closed by thecover and for a similar purpose the box S8 is provided with a. suitableopening shown closed by the plate 93. rl`he construction otherwise issubstantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1.

Ye have chosen the particular embodiments described above asillustrative of our invention and it will be apparent that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofour invention which modifications we aim to cover by the appendedclaims.

W'hat we claim as nevi7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

l. An electric switch comprising a sheet metal vessel having openings inthe top thereof, insulator bushings extending through the openings, abushing support mounted in each of said openings and secured to saidtop, said bushing -supports each having an outwardly extending flange bywhich the switch is adapted to be supported.

2. An electric switch comprising a vessel having a sheet metal coverprovided with openings therein, an insulator bushing extending througheach of said openings, a bushing supporting ring arranged in eachopening and having a Welded connection with the cover, each of saidrings having an outwardly extending flange portion adapted to en gage asiippoit for the switch.

3. An oil circuit breaker comprising a casing containing oil and fixedand movable contacts immersed therein, said casing including a coverhaving an aperture therein, a removable portion covering said aperture,cx eriial means for removably securing said portion to the cover,insulator bushings extending through said cover and supporting the fixedcontacts, switch operating mechanism secured to and removable with saidremovable portion, said mechanism partly depending into the switchcasing through said aperture, and an operating rod having a connectionwith said mechanism, said connection extending through and journaled ina wall of said removable portion.

4. An electric switch comprising a pressure casing having switchcontacts and contact operating mechanism therein, a removable portionmounted at the top of said casing, a buffer spring mounted on a wall ofand within said portion for said mechanism and means operable from theexterior of said portion for adjusting said spring.

5. An oil circuit breaker comprising a contact enclosing tank, a sheetmetal cover therefor having a generally rectangular opening therein, aswitch operating mechanism located above -said cover and projectingthrough said opening, a generally rectangular sheet metal box-likestructure surrounding said opening and welded to said sheet metal coveradjacent the opening therein, a removable cover for said b oX-likeportion, and means for securing'said box cover to said box portion, saidswitch operating mechanism being mounted within and supported by saidremovable cover, a shaft for -said mechanism journaled in and extendingthrough said removable cover, and a closing spring operatively connectedto said shaft externally of said cover tending to move said mechanism toclosed circuit position.

6. A circuit breaker comprising a sheet metal "vessel-i having openingsin the top thereof,Z insulator l bushings" extending rthrough*a'fpa'iroff-,said openings, a bushing supportinglring disposed `lin each 'ofsaid bushingopen'ing's and having/a, welded con'- nectio'nwith the top,and a lsheet `metal `boxlike structure surroundingv another of vsaid fopeningsI and having i a `welded i connection Witlrthetop adjacent saidopening,l a switch operating mechanism depending: within saidolpeningyand ycarried' bysaid' vbox-like structure, said bushingsupporting'rrings and boxlikev strueture'servingto strengthen 'andincrease the rigidity of said top, and"means associated wi'thgsaid'ftopforfsupporting said circuit breaker; y

7. Aj circuit breaker comprising a .tank withinwhich fixed and movablecontacts are disposed,l a dome-shaped cover for said tank, means' forsupporting switch operating meclr anism for saidcoiitac'ts from saidcover coinprising apair of supporting plates i'nountedH invdependingrelation: with vrespect vto said` cover, and a f dash pot'forhsaidoperatingy mechanism secured i toxand carriedy by said' 'Y supportingplates.

8. Aii-l'electric switch.- comprisinga pressure casingvhavingswitchcontacts and contact operating mechanism therein, saidmechanism includingl a 'i toggle, a removable portion mountedat thetopofsaid i-"casingl within which-said-tog mounted, and means extendingthroug and operable from the exterior of said portion for adjusting saidtoggle.

9. An electric switch comprising a pressure casing containing insulatingliquid and fixed and movable contacts immersed therein, said casingincluding a cover having an extending portion removable therefroin,supporting plates depending from said portion, insulator bushingsextending through said cover and supporting the iixed contacts, andswitch operating toggle mechanism mounted on said plates and removablewith said removable portion independently of said bushings.

10. An electric switch comprising a pressure casing containinginsulating liquid and iixed and movable contacts immersed therein, saidcasing including a cover having a removable portion, external means forremovably securing said portion to the cover, iiisulator bushingsextending through said cover and supporting the fixed contacts, andswitch operating mechanism secured to and removable with said removableportion, an operating rod having a connection with said mechanism whichconnection extends through and is journaled in a wall of said removableportion, and a separately reinovable cover for said rod and connection.

11. An oil switch comprising a contact enclosing tank, a dome shapedsheet metal cover therefor having a generally rectangular openingtherein, a switch operating mechanism located above said dome shapedcover and projecting through said opening, a generally rectangular sheetmetal box-like structure surrounding said opening and welded to saiddome shaped member adjacent the opening therein, a removable cover forsaid box-like portion and means for securing said removable cover in agas tight manner to said box portion, said switch operating mechanismbeing mounted within and supported by said box cover, whereby saidmechanism is removable as a unit with the box cover.

l2. An oil switch comprising a dome shaped sheet metal cover having anopening therein, a box-like member surrounding said opening and weldedto the cover adjacent the opening therein, a removable cover for saidbox-like portion, and means for removably securing said box cover to thebox-like portion in a gas tight manner, said box cover having a hollowraised portion, switch contact operating mechanism mounted within andsupported by said box cover, actuating mechanisml for said switchoperating mecha-- nism located outside of the raised portion of the boxcover, and a removable cover for said actuating mechanism.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

JOHN W. UPP. WVILLIAM K. RAN KIN.

